Auxiliary window sash



June E8, 1946. v REEN 2,402,247

AUXILIARY WINDOW SA$H Filed Jan. 15, 1944 [LARRY B. GREEN INVENTOR.

ATTOIIJVEY Patented June 18, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUXILIARYWINDOW SASH Harry B. Green, Denver, Colo.

Application January 13, 1944, Serial No. 518,092

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a storm or auxiliary window sash, and moreparticularly to an auxiliary sash for a metal casement window or thelike.

Storm sashes for the usual type of window are attached to the outside ofthe window frame, thereby forming a relatively dead air space forinsulating purposes and decreasing the heat necessary to maintain theroom or building at a desired temperature. As the more usual type ofwindow is divided into upper and lower sections which slide'vertically,either the window or storm sash may be opened or closed withoutinterference by the other. Usually, such a storm window is hinged at thetop so that it may be opened outwardly from the inside.

A different type of window-the casement window-has come into relativelyextensive use recently, particularly in apartment houses. A casementwindow normally has an all-metal frame provided with partitions and thespaces between the partitions are normally smaller than the panes of theprevious window. Such casement windows are usually provided with onesection or dOOr which is hing-ed at one side and opened by a crankmechanism at the lower end of the window. Also, a screen may be attachedto the inside of the window to cover the door opening. The normal typeof storm sash or storm window cannot, of course, be placed on theoutside of casement windows because the door cannot be opened and alsobecause the window frames are usually made of metal. Thus, storm sashesfor casement windows are usually highly expensive and require aconsiderable amount of drilling or the like of the window frame.Furthermore, when the storm sash is installed the window cannot beopened. Hermetically sealed double windows have not proven a solution tothe problem because it is extremely difficult to provide a suitable doortherein.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide an auxiliary sash fora casement window or the like; to provide such a sash which will be easyto install; to provide such a sash which may be installed on the insideof a casement window; to provide such a sash which will blend with theeasement window so as to present a more pleasing appearance; to providesuch a sash which 'wil1 have optimum insulating qualities; to providesuch a sash which has a door corresponding to the door of the casementwindow; to provide such a sash which has a door tending to preventinfiltration losses through the door of the casement window; and toprovide such a sash which may be constructed easily and at low cost.

Other objects and novel features will become apparent from the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation looking from inside a room, of an auxiliarysash constructed in accordance with this invention and affixed to acasement window;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the sash and casement window,taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line 3--3 of Fig.l, at the upper end of the sash door;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line 4--4 of Fig.1, at the bottom of the sash door; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section illustrating weather-stripping of theauxiliary sash.

As in Figs. 1 and 2, an auxiliary sash S constructed in accordance withthis invention may be applied to a casement window W. The frame ID ofthe casement Window, usually steel, embedded around its edges in wall llof the building, while transparent panes ii of glass or the like areattached to the window in the spaces between .frame ill and metalpartitions l3, as by putty or the like. A door pane I4 is attached to aframe l5, hinged at one side and adapted to be opened or closed, a by alever 16 one end of which is attached to the door frame and the otherend moved by a suitable mechanism actuated by a handle H. The dooropening may normally be covered by a screen, attached to partitions l3and frame lil in a suitable manner, as by screws.

The auxiliary sash S, constructed in accordance with this invention,preferably comprises a framework 20 made of wood and having partitions2! corresponding in location to the partitions of the easement window. Awooden door frame 22 may be attached at one side by hinges 23 to one ofthe partitions and corresponds in position to the door of the casementwindow. Transparent panes 24, of suitable material such as glass, aresecured in grooves 25, preferably located on the side of the frameworkand partitions adjacent the easement window. A transparent pane 26,preferably of the same material, is attached to door frame 22 of thesash, and the panes may be held in place in a suitable manner, as bymolding 21. It will be understood, of course, that any other suitablemanner of attaching the panes may be utilized, and that the panes may beopaque, or formed of material other than glass, such as plastics and thelike.

That the framework and partition of the auxiliary sash correspond to theframework and partitions of the easement window provides a number ofadvantages. For instance, the auxiliary sash blends with, or hides, thewindow and there is little visual evidence of its presence. Also, theappearance of the room may be left as before by painting or otherwisecoloring the framework and partitions of the auxiliary sash the samecolor a the framework and partitions of the easement window. 01', in thecase of a living room, for instance, to harmonize more effectively withrugs, draperies, furniture covering or the like, which may be utilizedin winter to brighten the room, or for other efiect, the auxiliary sashmay be painted or stained a different color from the window.

In further accordance with this invention, the framework and partitionsof the sash are held against the framework and partition of the window,thereby dividing the space between the two into a number of dead airspaces. This reduces convection currents and increases insulatingeffectiveness.

Wood is a preferred material for the framework and partitions of theauxiliary sash. Wood transmits less heat than metal and can thereforecontact the metal framework and artitions of the window, therebysubstantially reducing the amount of heat transferred into the room.Also, wood reduces the tendency towards moisture condensation. Inaddition, wood may be shaped readily to provide a decorative moldingeffect. Furthermore, the edges of the framework may be shaped or alteredslightly so that the sash will fit tightly into the window space,without marring, gouging, or otherwise disfigurin paint 28 or othercovering for the interior walls. To reduce infiltration losses, the edgeof the framework may be weather-stripped and the sash frame may berabbetted to accommodate the weather-stripping 40, as in Fig. 5, whichmay be formed of felt or any other suitable material.

Further to increase the insulating effectiveness of the auxiliary sashof this invention, the door frame 22 of the sash preferably is providedwith a tapered or lap joint around all of its edges, to reduce therelatively large infiltration losses normally occurring around the edgesof a casement window door. Also, since the partitions of the sash areheld against the partitions of the window, any air filtering into thespace between the sash and window doors is restricted to that space. Thejoint may include an overhang 29, shaped to fit against decorativemolding of the partition and framework at the upper and lower edges, asin Figs. 3 and 4. Or, a double bevel lap joint with a flat space betweenthe two bevels, may be utilized as in Fig. 2, the latter being useful inpermitting the door frame 22 to hide screws 30 by which the sash isattached to th window.

Screw 30 are disposed in identical locations and engage the samethreaded apertures a the screws normally used in attaching the screen.

The door of the auxiliary sash may be provided with a handle 32,connected to a suitable lever for opening and/or locking the door, whilea slot 33 may be provided to accommodate the handle for locking thewindow door, the slot 33 being provided in a partition 2| with one edgeflush with the edge of door frame 22, although it may be placed in otherpositions in accordance with different positions of the easement doorhandle. Also, a slot 34 may be provided at the lower end of the sashframework to accommodate the actuating mechanism for the window door.When the sash door is opened, the handle of the window opening mechanismnormally must be placed in a downward position, but usually whenever thesash door is opened the window door will be opened also so that littleinconvenience is caused.

Further in accordance with this invention, when the auxiliary sash isinstalled, the distance between each pane of glass in the window andeach correspondin pane of glass in the auxiliary sash is at least onehalf inch and not more than one inch. Preferably, the distance isbetween one half inch and one inch, with the greatest insulatory effectobtained when the distance is between three quarters of an inch and oneinch. The sash panes are preferably attached to the. side thereofadjacent the window, to permit the spacing between the panes to fallwithin the above limits. Tests have shown that the conductivity of heatacross the space between the two panes of glass is appreciably less atone half inch than at a smaller distance; that the conductivitydecreases as the dimension increases from one half to three quarters ofan inch; that the conductivity decreases slightly as the dimensionincreases from three quarters to one inch; and that there issubstantially no increase in insulating effect when the dimension isgreater than one inch. Since the closer the panes are spaced, the betterthe appearance of the window and sash, the optimum range of spacing isbetween one half and three quarters of an inch. However, if necessary,certain panes such as the door panes may be spaced between threequarters of an inch .and one inch apart.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that'the auxiliary sash of thisinvention is readily and cheaply made; that it provides optimuminsulation without detracting from the appearance of the window; that itis quickly and easily installed and removed; and that it reduces thetendency towards moisture condensation. It will be further apparent thatsuch a sash reduces the tendency towards both infiltration and heatconduction losses and at the same time permits relatively normaloperation of the door in the window and provides access to the exteriorof the window for cleaning or other purposes.

Although a specific embodiment of this invention has been described indetail, it will be understood that other embodiment may exist, such asan auxiliary sash of similar construction without a door; that materialsother than wood, such as plastics, may be utilized for the frameworkiand that various other changes may be made therein, all withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An auxiliary sash for a casement window having a plurality of steelpartitions with panes of glass attached thereto, a door openingoutwardly, and means for opening said doorextendins inwardly from saidwindow at the lower end thereof, said sash comprising a wooden frameworkhaving partitions corresponding to the partitions of said window and adoor adapted to open inwardly and corresponding in position to the doorin said window; a frame for said sash door forming a tapered lap jointwith the surrounding portions of said sash framework; an aperture in thelower portion of said sash framework for accommodating said means foropening the door of said window; grooves formed in the frame of saidsash door and the framework of said sash adjacent aid window foraccommodating panes of glass; molding securing said panes of glasswithin said grooves; and means attaching said sash to said window on theinside thereof, including screws extending through the partitions ateach side of said sash door and engaging threaded apertures in saidwindow, the heads of said screws bein covered by said sash door withinthe angular lap joint between the frame of said door and thecorresponding partitions of said framework.

2. An auxiliary sash for a casement window or the like having anoutwardly opening door therein, said sash comprising a framework havingpartitions corresponding to those of said window and an inwardly openindoor corresponding in position to the door in said window; transparentpanes aifixed to said framework; and means attaching said framework tothe inside of said window with the partitions of said framework againstthe partitions of said window and the distance between correspondingpanes of said sash and window at least one-half inch but not more thanthree-fourths inch, said framework having a lap joint formed around theperiphery of said door to reduce infiltration, said attaching meanscomprising screws extending through said framework in said lap jointinto the stationary portion of the frame of said window, and said screwsbeing hidden by said door when in closed position.

HARRY B. GREEN.

